Giving art – but doing it right: what really matters

This year is crazy. First it drags on like chewing gum, and then suddenly – in four weeks it's already the first Sunday in Advent. Now, at the latest, it's time to start thinking about presents.
I love Christmas, but I'm usually a bit behind with the preparations. Still, I don't want to give just anything. I want my gifts to say: I see you. You are important to me

Bestimmt geht es dir auch so und du willst etwas Persönliches verschenken – vielleicht sogar Kunst? Eine schöne Idee.
Ich weiß aber auch, dass der Kauf von Kunst, für sich selbst und erst recht als Geschenk, mit Unsicherheiten verbunden ist. Als Künstlerin werden mir einige Fragen immer wieder gestellt. Heute beantworte ich sie.

A Plea for Art as a Gift

Art is personal; it touches us and tells stories. A work of art accompanies us, changes with us and often takes on new meaning over time. It can carry memories and transport us back to the mood we were in when we first saw it.

Art is not about decorative value. That is just an accessory. Engaging with art makes us happy. This has actually been scientifically proven. Looking at art releases the same hormones in us as seeing a loved one. Scientists say that looking at art, really looking at it, feels like a hug. As an artist, I can confirm this.

And what could be nicer to give than a hug?
I am convinced that art is the perfect gift. For everyone – except perhaps self-proclaimed art haters.

Now, it may be obvious that I think this way as an artist and art lover. But I'm not trying to sell you anything here. (But feel free if you like something. I really appreciate any support :))
Let's be honest, we all like to surround ourselves with beautiful things. The term ‘art’ always carries such weight and fuels uncertainty – and distance.

I find that incredibly unfortunate. Because it's the opposite of what art can do.

5 Questions I am Frequently Asked

To address this, I will answer the five most frequently asked questions I receive when it comes to purchasing the “right” artwork.

1. How do I find a piece of art that really suits someone?

Behind this question usually lies the fear of buying something ‘wrong’, i.e. disappointing someone, wasting money or embarrassing oneself. We believe we have to understand art in order to choose it.

However, there is no such thing as the objectively ‘right’ work of art, just as there is no such thing as the wrong one. A work of art is right if it triggers something in you. It conveys a feeling of calm, curiosity, joy, melancholy or security.

Art does not work through arguments, but through resonance. If a detail, a colour or a mood stays with you, then it is right. Trust your intuition. This works when you buy art for yourself and also when you want to give it as a gift.

Don't try to guess the other person's taste. Instead, think of moments, memories or characteristics that you associate with that person. If a work reminds you of these, there's a good chance that it will also appeal to the recipient. Make this memory part of your gift. Write a letter, a card or talk about it when you give the gift.

‘This landscape feels like the place where we grew up,’ ‘Do you remember last summer when we sat on the terrace and talked and talked as the sun went down and the sky changed colours? I thought of that when I saw this painting,’ or ‘The colours in this painting are as cheerful as you are, I just had to buy it.’
Or simply: ‘I saw this artwork and thought of you.’ This makes the gift something very special.

2. Does a Work of Art have to Match the Colour Scheme or Style of the Recipient's Home?

No, it doesn't have to. You're not giving away a piece of furniture or decoration. You're giving away art. And art is allowed to cause friction, to challenge or surprise.
Stylistic differences are not a problem. A contrast can even be more exciting than a perfectly coordinated arrangement.

I think small works of art are particularly suitable as gifts. They are more flexible and give the recipient more freedom to decide where to hang or place them. Small works of art can also be combined well with each other, which can change their effect.

3. How can I Tell if a Work of Art is ‘Good’?

Behind this question, too, there is usually the uncertainty of ‘I don't know my way around this.’
No one wants to be ripped off. That's understandable. But this question is less about whether the canvas is warped, the wood is bent or similar material defects.

Unconsciously, at least sometimes, it's about the question: am I buying art or hobby painting? And to be clear, there's nothing wrong with hobby painting.
It's usually about the process of painting, experimenting with the material, the pure joy of it. And that's wonderful.

Art arises from an inner need to express, explore or visualise something. Artists develop their work over years, question it, accept setbacks and work on their own language. In their works, they process personal and universal experiences.

Is one better than the other? You don't need an expert to tell you that. You are the measure of all things. What speaks to you is good. What feels authentic to you is good.
If you want to buy art for investment purposes, there may be other criteria. But that's not what we're talking about here.

4. Why do Works of Art Vary so Much in Price?

From the outside, it may seem arbitrary how an art price is determined. Especially since works of art of the same size can range in price from 100 euros to tens of thousands of euros.
But the art price is not purely the sum of materials + time, but rather an interplay of artistic value, market mechanisms and social perception.

The decisive factors for the art price are:

• Size and Material

  It sounds trivial, but it is relevant in practical terms: large works require more materials, more time, more storage space and often higher shipping costs – all of which are factored into the price.
  High-quality materials (pigments, canvases, frames, metal, wood, etc.) also increase the price.

• Uniqueness and Originality

  An original costs significantly more than a print or an edition.
  Even among originals, it matters whether it is a unique piece or part of a series, how complex the creation process was, and whether special techniques were used.

• The Artist's Reputation and Market Position

  That is the biggest factor. A work by someone who exhibits internationally or is represented by major galleries has a completely different market value than that of an emerging artist – even if both work at a similar technical level.

• Demand and Collector's Value

  When artists become established and collectors buy regularly, prices automatically rise due to the forces of supply and demand.

• Galleries and Commissions

  When a work is sold through a gallery, the gallery usually receives 40–50% of the sale price.
  This means that the price of a work of art must be calculated in such a way that, after this commission has been deducted, the artist is still left with a fair wage. This increases the final price accordingly.

5. What if the Budget is Limited?

You don't need a big budget to buy art. My best tip is to buy directly from artists. That way, you're supporting us directly, and we can really use that! Plus, the price isn't inflated by gallery or platform commissions.

Don't get me wrong. Galleries and art platforms have their place. They act as intermediaries between artists and buyers. They facilitate access for both sides, and it's fair that they get paid for that.
But if your budget is limited, you can also search for art yourself and save money in the process.

What's more, small formats are often more affordable. But they can have the same expressive value as large works. Size doesn't say anything about significance. And as already explained, small formats are particularly well suited as gifts.

Editions or prints are not ‘second choice’. Many artists offer high-quality fine art prints, sometimes in small editions. This has nothing to do with posters. These prints are so precise and the paper so high-quality that you might think you are looking at an original painting.
They are cheaper, but no less valuable artistically. And a numbered small edition can certainly have its own value.

A Fair Idea: Buy Art, Support Artists

Speaking of affordable art, if you want to give art as a gift or buy it for yourself without spending a fortune, it's worth taking a look at the Artist Support Pledge.

This is now a global initiative founded in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic by British artist Matthew Burrows. When exhibitions, fairs and galleries suddenly closed, artists lost their most important sources of income. Burrows wanted to create a way for artists to support each other in a straightforward, solidarity-based manner without intermediaries.

The idea behind it is simple: those who sell art give part of the proceeds back into the cycle by buying art from others themselves.
This creates a kind of solidarity-based economic cycle within the art world – a system based on trust and community, not competition.

How does the Artist Support Pledge work in practice?

• Artists post their works on social media (mostly on Instagram) with the hashtag #artistsupportpledge.
• Each work may cost a maximum of €220 ($220 / £220 / A$330 / C$330 / ¥22,000). This keeps art affordable and accessible.
• Once someone has sold art worth a total of €1,100 (£1,100, A$1,650, C$1,650, ¥110,000), they commit to purchasing a work from another artist participating in the pledge.
• The system is based on honesty. There is no control, no central platform, just a shared understanding that if you profit, you give something back.

Especially in uncertain times, the pledge helps to secure short-term income. Artists not only support each other instead of competing for limited resources, they also create access for people with smaller budgets. This gives them the opportunity to acquire real art.

So if you're still looking for a very special Christmas gift, search for a work of art that moves you under the hashtag #artistsupportpledge.